Consistency.
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It's a buzz word in sport.
Everyone is in search of it; players thrive off it, fans demand it and referees crave it.
Basically, if you're consistent you'll be successful.
So I laughed a little bit on Sunday when I asked the Bathurst St Pat's girls, fresh off a fourth straight Western Challenge league tag crown, what the secret behind their stunning success is?
All I got was shrugged shoulders. Remember, this is arguably the best league tag outfit in the bush.
I thought for sure five-eighth Bronte Emanuel would say consistency - they're been the picture of it for half-a decade.
The blue and whites took out the inaugural Western Premiers Challenge last year after winning the 2018 Group 10 crown undefeated. They've qualified for six of the last seven Group 10 grand finals, too.
But instead Emanuel said the 2019 St Pat's, so far anyway, have been anything but.
They're about two weeks into their pre-season, and there's a stack of new faces at the club. Not all that convincing of a lead-up, is it?
But the one thing St Pat's has that hasn't changed is quality.
New to St Pat's, Hannah Kelly and Paige Hay have both played with the tremendously talented Parkes Spacecats in Group 11, winning last year's title, while Elysse Girot-Serplet has been a gun with Forbes and Eugowra in the past.
We just had to dig in.
- St Pat's half Bronte Emanuel.
All three were terrific for the blue and whites on Sunday, particularly when faced with a tough Dubbo CYMS in the final.
"We just had to dig in," Emanuel said not long after those shrugged shoulders.
Now we're getting somewhere.
Don't worry about the fact there's no contact, league tag is tough. The intricate practice of timing your tagging perfectly ... I don't know if it's all that easy.
So when the best league tag team in the region gives away one of its secrets, you take the hint.
St Pat's is without question one of the most talented league tag sides in bush footy, I'd back them against anyone.
But they're also the toughest. They work hard and never give up on a play, and that's what sets them apart from the rest.
As Emanuel said, when they're not at their best, they simply dig in.
We're on the cusp of another ripping league tag season across Western, in both Group competitions as well as the Woodbridge Cup, and if a side is to emerge and challenge St Pat's at some point, they need to take the hint - dig in.
It's not all about flashy footwork and loads of speed.
TRIAL FORM TRACKER
HOW YOUR SIDE IS BUILDING AHEAD OF THE 2019 SEASON
FORBES
The defending Group 11 premiers kicked off their title defence with the inaugural Geoff Acheson and Marty Annetts Shield against Cowra, which is basically a fancy name for the battle of the swoopers.
Group 10's Magpies prevailed storming to a 34-24 victory at Spooner Oval.
No sign of Jake Grace back in black and white ... yet.
COWRA
See above, the new holders of the Geoff Acheson and Marty Annetts Shield looked very impressive in their second-up start in 2019.
The 2018 Group 10 runners-up bounced back after a loss in the opening round of the NSW Challenge Cup to defending champions, and Group 11 rivals Dubbo CYMS.
Jeremy Gordon played in the centres while Lee McClintock played at fullback in a backline reshuffle we could see plenty more of in 2019.
BATHURST PANTHERS
The 2019 Group 10 season proper isn't far off for Doug Hewitt's Panthers outfit, and if their first-up match on Saturday is anything to go by the depth at the Bathurst club is immense.
Playing West Wyalong at Forbes, Panthers trotted out just three players from last year's grand final winning outfit and still came up trumps, winning 34-12 across 20-minute quarters. Panthers play Blayney in the NRL curtain-raiser on March 30.
NYNGAN
Justin Carney marked his Tigers return during a trial against the Roosters, Nyngan thumping their old western rivals 56-6 under lights at Larkin Oval.
Carney played at fullback for the bulk of the clash and proved more than a handful when carrying the ball.
ORANGE HAWKS
Traveled to Coogee to take on the Dolphins in an all-grades hit-out at the start of March.
OBERON
Trialled against the Western Rams under 23s at Oberon, the young rep outfit triumphing five tries to two against Josh Starling's new-look black and golds.
The clash marked Farren Lamb's first game for his new club.
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